A.M.
J.,
My 4.5 year old daughter has SPD with PDD. It took a long time to get her diagnosed. She was 3.5 when she started therapy. At the age of 2, I thought there were problems but my then-pediatrician discouraged me from getting her tested and that was a huge mistake. By the age of 3.5, her symptoms were much worse. (Her "normal" meltdowns had progressed to include hurting herself. Self-injury is one of the most agonizing things you will deal with as a mother.) Had we started earlier, like you have, she would be that much farther ahead.
Sensory Processing Disorder affects almost every part of a child's life. You will find that SPD cannot be cured. A child does not grow out of SPD, they grow into SPD. You and your son will learn ways to cope with SPD.
If your son is in EI, you should ask your caseworker for information on qualifying for MA (if you are in PA). Medical Assistance is the only way to pay for therapy once your child turns 3. You will get some assistance from the IU, but they are very limited in their services. Your son may need speech therapy and will need occupational therapy. The IU can provide both but you will only get one session once a week during the school year and the IU therapists cannot address SPD, their job is to work on school skills.
My daughter goes to OT at CHP once a week, she has private speech therapy twice a week, she has six hours of social skills services. She also has 4 hours of BSC and 19 hours of TSS. (BSC and TSS are behavioral services. The TSS goes to preschool with her and works 1-1 with her.) All of these are provided throught the State but you must have MA. The MA application process takes about 5 months and the other testing and meetings take about another 5 months so it is best to get started before you need the services.
My daughter has made a lot of progress but she still has a long way to go. She went to a "regular" preschool but she needed her services to make it through. We really do not know what she will be like once she gets to kindergarten, she may have to wait an extra year (she qualifies in 2010). Our best guess and hope is that she will be functioning at grade level by the end of 4th-5th grade but we really do not know.
Many SPD children function very well in regular classrooms. Some SPD children go on to lead very normal lives, it just depends on the child. Many children as affected as my daughter have a great prognosis. But really, all you can do is learn as much as you can about SPD, get the services you need, work with your son. (I put in a lot of work with my daughter. If your therapists are not giving you homework, you should ask for it. I also have two sensory rooms in my home - one active and one passive, for my daughter.) The more you put into the system, the more you will get out of it. You have to educate yourself so you can advocate for your son.
In addition to the books listed by other posts, I would highly recommend The Everything Parents Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder. It is an excellent beginners resource, even better than the "bible" of SPD, the Out of Sync Child. I would also receommend the Out of Sync Child has fun. It has great sensory activities for children.
If you would like to talk further, please send me a private maessage. The diganosis phase is always so diificult to get through. (I had the added worry of having a very ill 2 year old son. He needs a kidney transplant. Having two children with very special needs puts all of your life into perspective.)
Good luck.
